Would trade points for winsRockets guard Kevin Martin has become a model of scoring efficiency, but the team's record has robbed him of any joy

JONATHAN FEIGEN, Copyright 2010 Houston Chronicle |
November 19, 2010

Rockets guard Kevin Martin averages more points per shot than any other top 20 scorer.

TORONTO — Kevin Martin didn't move. Long after he had returned to his locker, swaddled in a towel with most teammates dressed and heading for the bus, he remained with his back to the room, stunned.

As he emerged from his thoughts, his voice was neither angry nor hushed, his mood more shocked than sullen.

With Wednesday's 116-99 loss at Oklahoma City, the Rockets had fallen to 3-8, blown out for the first time in this short — but in some ways long — season. Martin never imagined himself carrying such a scoring load and suffering through the sorts of struggles he was certain he left behind in Sacramento.

"Oh, it's been so tough — mentally, physically, everything," Martin said. "We didn't see it coming, but we also didn't see a lot of things coming. We didn't see the inconsistency with who's out there, our defense, a lot of it. It's tough. A lot of us are at a loss for words. "

Martin, a 6-7 guard, leads the Rockets in scoring and is second in the NBA behind Kobe Bryant in points per minute.

He not only has averaged 23.1 points per game, he has done it by taking just 14.4 shots per game (fewer than any top-10 scorer) and poured in at least 18 points in every game.

One of the league's most efficient scorers this season — he averages more points per shot than any other top-20 scorer — Martin, 27, has made 45.6 percent of his shots and 36.8 percent of his 3-pointers. He's made an average of 8.1 free throws per game, shooting 89.9 percent from the line.

But Martin said he takes no pleasure from his performance.

"I think 3-8 prevents those feelings, big-time," he said. "It definitely takes away the satisfaction when you're losing. I have to find ways to win.

"My favorite year was my second year (in Sacramento) with Rick (Adelman). I was averaging 10. I was the fifth option. And we went to the playoffs. Those were my happiest moments."

Greater responsibility

Martin spent years leading a losing team's offense. Though he was brought in to replace the scoring lost with Tracy McGrady's decline — acquired in the deal that sent McGrady to New York and Carl Landry to Sacramento — he was to be a part of the Rockets' offense, rather than its focus. The role would suit his style — based on moving without the ball and scoring with relatively few shots — better than as a go-to scorer.

With Yao Ming inconsistent while coming back from his year off and now out and Aaron Brooks going out in the season's fifth game, Martin and forward Luis Scola have carried far more scoring load than expected.

"It definitely wasn't the plan going into the season," Martin said. "I wish our big fella and our little fella were still with me, but things like that happen. I've been through my share of injuries the past couple years. When guys are hurt, other guys have to step up. Going into the season, I thought we had a rhythm. Everyone was feeling good. It's just not happening right now.

"I've been on good teams, set teams with no injuries, and bad teams with a lot of injuries, so many people going in and out of the lineup. It's tough to adjust to. Hopefully, you can keep grinding out, filling our holes."

The season is in its first weeks, with Chase Budinger hoping to return as soon as tonight in Toronto and Yao to come back next week. The road-heavy start to the schedule — tonight's will be the eighth game in 12 played away from home — will balance out. But all that offers little solace.

"Obviously, it's very frustrating," center Brad Miller said. "We didn't expect us to come out of the gates 3-8. But we know we have good players, guys that want to win. It's good we play 82 games and not a college 30-game season. It's just a matter of grinding through. We've made a lot of improvements from early in the year. We just haven't been able to get the wins."

Nightmare season

When he was dealt to the Rockets in February, Martin did not imagine having to persevere through so many frustrations again. But as he dressed slowly after Wednesday's loss with another long flight following another long night, he made a well-practiced grab at hope.

"We're still playing together," he said. "We have moments we're all rallying around each other, having fun. When it is going bad, of course you're going to have a period of 'Why is this happening to us?' But we're going out there, trying to help each other. These days, just the bottom line, we're starting to feel outmanned. It's tough."